Have you run into that thing where you wake up in the middle of the night, suddenly your brain turns on, and you can’t get back to sleep? The minutes start melting into hours, and without realizing it, morning has arrived, and your alarm goes off. It can be a real nightmare trying to stop the brain train. And when the brain train is on overdrive, all the little details become consuming and become one big, fat bucket of stress and anxiety. Each new day offers a new buffet of random and minor details to obsess over. As exciting as all that stress and anxiety have been, it begins to feel overwhelming, and you would like it to step down a few notches. Well, here are some thoughts from the Tao.
COMMON CAUSES OF STRESS
Most of the time, the causes of stress are pretty universal. You just add your own special flavor or twist to a common theme. Some of the universal causes of stress and anxiety are:
- Work-related stress: Job pressures, long hours, and high demands can all contribute to stress and anxiety.
- Financial stress: Money troubles, such as debt, or uncertainty about the future can be a significant cause of stress and anxiety.
- Relationship stress: Conflict with loved ones or the end of a relationship can be a significant source of stress and anxiety.
- Health-related stress: Illness, injury, or chronic health conditions can cause stress and anxiety, as can the fear of becoming ill.
- Life changes: Moving, starting a new job, or the loss of a loved one can all be significant sources of stress and anxiety.
- Trauma: Traumatic events, such as a car accident, physical or sexual abuse, or natural disasters can cause long-term stress and anxiety.
- Genetics: Some people may have a genetic predisposition to anxiety, which means they are more likely to experience anxiety symptoms.
- Social isolation: Feeling isolated, disconnected, or lonely can contribute to stress and anxiety.
So, there they are, and you get to add your own special flavor to whichever main theme is causing your stress. Because these themes are so universal, people from any walk of life will experience them. That means getting caught up in the cycle of worry and stress can be pretty easy. But you don’t want to get trapped there. So, how do you find a way out?
HOW THE I CHING HELPS YOU OVERCOME STRESS
One of the easiest ways to help manage stress and anxiety is a third person perspective, finding that mentor or guide to help you see different aspects of the situation. Probably the key strength of a mentor or a guide is they offer different perspectives. These perspectives can help you challenge your assumptions and beliefs. This can open up new ways of thinking and help you unwind from that feeling of being trapped.
One tool that can help with this is the I Ching, also known as the Book of Changes. The I Ching is an ancient philosophical work that can be used to explore different perspectives. It is based on 64 hexagrams, each representing different aspects of life and other ways of looking at your world.
An I Ching reading can help you see different perspectives by providing a structured way to explore your thoughts and feelings. The hexagrams offer insight and guidance into your situation and can also present views you have yet to explore. That gives you more flexibility.
To learn more about the I Ching, click here. If you’re interested in getting a personal I Ching reading to address your specific situation, you can get your personal I Ching reading here.
HOW TAOISM CAN YOU GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD
Anxiety and stress is about the past or about the future. So, being present can be a struggle as your mind fixates on past and potential future events. The focus on the past or future can create a constant state of mental chatter that makes it hard to focus on the present moment.
There is a physical side to stress, too. When stressed, your body releases hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones increase heart rate, and blood pressure and cause your mind to race. The physical changes make it difficult to be in the present moment as all the chemistry has to be pulled back into control to eliminate the feelings of worry, fear, and uncertainty.
Although not the only method that focuses on being present, I like Taoism the most. Here is thing, some of the other practices, such as mindfulness, are an aspect of Taoism. What is so important about the present? If you take a moment to sit inside the present, you realize that everything that is causing your stress and anxiety isn’t happening in the present. The events that you’re stressing over live in a different time zone. That’s the thing; your stress and anxiety could be happening, but it’s happening someplace else – in a different time zone. And when you catch up to the timezone, you find that what you thought would happen usually doesn’t.
By finding the present, you live in your timezone and harmony with your life. The more you find the present, the more you accidentally release the need to control and rush. By living in your timezone, you find your natural flow. Sometimes, I read through Taoist quotes, and the words help me reframe my situation and become more present.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu
For me, that’s a great quote about the importance of not rushing and being present in the moment. By embracing the natural pace of things, you can learn to live in harmony with the present moment.
“Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force.”
To flow as life flows is to be present and in harmony with the natural rhythms of life. By letting go of the need to control, you can learn to be present in the moment and enjoy the present.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
This is one of my favorite quotes, maybe because I spend so much time rushing. This quote emphasizes the importance of being patient and letting things happen naturally. By not rushing and trying to control the present, you can learn to be present and appreciate the natural flow of life.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR MIND TO BE PRESENT
There are ways to help train your mind to be present. The easier it is to bring your mind back to the present, the easier it will be to overcome stress and anxiety. With practice, you can use your training to help you snap yourself out of stress and anxiety.
A popular and effective practice is mindfulness. You can practice mindfulness meditation at home. In this type of meditation, you focus on the present moment by using something physical such as your breath, bodily sensations, noise around you, or even a word or phrase. Focusing on one of these things can help train your mind to be more present and less distracted by thoughts and worries about the past or future. The more you practice, the more this will become a new skill set you can use whenever you experience stress and anxiety.
If you’re having a hard time focusing, watch these simple tips.
OVERCOME STRESS BY LETTING GO OF CONTROL
“When you let go of what you are, you become what you might be.” – Lao Tzu
This quote teaches you that by letting go of your attachments and expectations, you can become more open to new possibilities and experiences. It suggests that you must let go of your current identity or way of being to become something new or different. Holding on too tightly to your current self can prevent growth or change. Instead, by letting go of control and being open to new possibilities, one can become something greater than they were before.
“Let go of who you are and you’ll become someone even cooler!”
– 20th Century Lao Tzu
Spending too much time trying to control outcomes, you can become too attached to specific things or results. That can lead to disappointment or frustration if things go differently than planned. When you focus on the future or fixate on particular outcomes, you can lose sight of the present moment and its opportunities.
This type of thinking can lead to a lack of flexibility and creativity as you tend to be more rigid and less open to new possibilities when you are too focused on outcomes or attachments. To learn more about the cycles of thought in Chinese Medicine and how this type of thinking relates to the gallbladder, check out this video.
Trying to control the world around you is like trying to tame a wild elephant with a string of spaghetti, it’s just not going to happen. Life is complex and unpredictable, and it’s impossible to control everything, every time. But remember, you are resilient and strong, and you can learn to flow with the natural course of life. You can practice letting go of your attachments and focus on what you can control which is your actions, thoughts, and emotions.
These are some ideas from the Tao on managing your stress and anxiety. And changing a behavior you’ve been practicing for however long you have been here on earth is not going to happen overnight. It’s not like an antibiotic where you take a pill for seven days and are over your infection. I imagine you’ll feel better if you worked with any of these suggestions for seven days in a row. But, changing how you act in the world, changing your behaviors isn’t done in week or weekend course. It’s something that will need regular practice and not just something you occasionally do. Making any of these ideas a priority can improve your overall well-being and help you live a more healthy and happy life.
Kim Blaufuss is a formally trained Classical Chinese Medical Provider and Taoist practitioner.
Her unique approach combines Eastern and Western Science to provide a comprehensive and transformative emotional healing experience. By working with her, you can gain access to her extensive knowledge and expertise and benefit from her personalized and compassionate approach to healing.
Kim Blaufuss’ teachings can help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, cultivate inner peace and joy, and promote healing at a fundamental level. Her work has helped countless individuals achieve their spiritual and emotional goals, and by working with her, you, too, can experience the transformative power of her teachings. If you’re looking for a spiritual and emotional healer who can guide you toward greater well-being and fulfillment, then Kim is the perfect choice. Set-up your private work session today.